BHS stage 1 tomorrow and bricking it...

[wynnwith]

Ok so I’m prepared but worried I’ll forget stupid things like horses respiration rate etc and the ride bit 😩 I’ve been riding all my life why am I so scared!! Any hints, tips or advice greatly appreciated as I’m now wondering why I bothered 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Also am I ok to wear navy breeches? No idea what is classed as smart enough 🙈🙈. I’m worried I’ll forget to tie horse up or not tie up rug straps when I’m in a flap

 

[Farma]

Ok so I’m prepared but worried I’ll forget stupid things like horses respiration rate etc and the ride bit �� I’ve been riding all my life why am I so scared!! Any hints, tips or advice greatly appreciated as I’m now wondering why I bothered ����������. Also am I ok to wear navy breeches? No idea what is classed as smart enough ����. I’m worried I’ll forget to tie horse up or not tie up rug straps when I’m in a flap

I wore beige jods to all of my exams and so did everyone else (or white), I'm sure dark is fine though. I was terrified for the stage 1 aswell but it was really straight forward stuff and they can tell who is competent and who isn't, they wont hammer you for every minor detail.
My day went like this if your interested! It was quite a few years ago so I might forget a few details.
Mucking out, so correct procedure of removing buckets, haynets, explaining the type of bedding and its pros and cons.
Talk through with examiner in group about basic points of a horse, colours, markings etc. Walk, trot and stand up as if for a vet.
Talk through with examiner about fields, maintenance, weeds, very basic management. That went straight into feeding, you had to know basic percentages for different types and the rules of feed and watering, what sort of thing was heating and non heating, the basic kind of things, that wasn't too technical at all.
Then we had to do rugging (be prepared the examiners are old school and they ask about types of rug, they talk about wool rugs which are less common nowadays but worth mentioning), then tail bandaging and tacking up. Remember the order to put tack on with martingales and what not in mind, also EVERY time you go into a stable you tie the horse up and skip out poo if there is one. Plus if you take the horse from the stable you pick the feet so it doesn't go over the yard.
After that we had to talk through the aims of the BHS things like them being a charity, providing qualifications, legal help etc etc
Before we rode we had to explain the footfalls of each gait.
Riding, this was so basic, literally a few arena shapes and a walk, trot and canter shown.
I think that was it but if I think of anything else ill let you know!

 

[View]

Your a Skills Guide details what you are expected to wear, so don't fret and don't feel pressured to wear a tweed jacket.

Three or four candidates will have one assessor for the whole assessment. You will be set tasks such as mucking out, and while you are doing that will be asked a few questions about types of bedding, why you removed the water bucket etc.

Nerves are expected and allowed for. If you realise you have given a silly answer, just correct yourself. Be prepared to explain why you would do something e.g tying up a haynet: some people tie to a loop of baler twine through the ring, others don't. As long as you can explain your preference, it's fine.

The old sitting in a group around the assessor discussing e.g feed has gone. You are likely to be asked a couple of questions while doing something else. The benefit of this change is that can no longer be the person at the end of the line stumped for something else to say.

The riding is straightforward. You'll ride two horses, and it's walk, trot, canter and some poles. You might be asked which horse you preferred and why, or why your second mount lost balance. No trick questions - my answer to that was the horse shied when a pheasant suddenly flew up in front of him.

Stage 1 is straightforward, good luck - and remember to breathe!

 

[wynnwith]

Thanks guys that’s a real help. I don’t have a tweed jacket so will probably go for a polo shirt and gilet and keep everything crossed 🤣🤣

 

[EventingMum]

As an ex-assessor I can tell you they really do want to know what you do know not what you don't and would prefer you passed - in other words, they are on your side but have to abide by the criteria for each level to maintain standards. Good luck!